Method of treating wheat and the like grain



D. M. GRAHAM. METHOD OF TREATING WHEAT AND THE LIKE GRAIN. APPLICATIONFILED npmzs. 19:5. RENEWED MAY 24. I919.

Patented Mar. 2

I0 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. M. GRAHAM. METHOD OF mmms WHEAT AND 1m: LIKE (mm. APPLICATION FILEDAUG-25, I915. RENEWED MAY 24,1919. 1,332,495, Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 2- D. M. GRAHAM.

METHOD OF TREATING WHEN AND THE LIKE GRAIN. APPLICATION FILED wens,I915. RENEWED MAY 24. IQIQ.

1,332,495. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6 Roman,

APPLICATION FILED A-UG.25, I915. RENEWED MAY 24. l9l9- Patented Mar. 2,

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 4- D. M. GRAHAM. METHOD OF TREATING WHEAT AND THE LIKEGRAIN. APPLICATION FILED AU.G,.25, 191s. RENEWED MAY 24.1919. 1,332,495.

Elnoamtoz I0 $HEETSSHEET 5. Q1

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

1; W 33151331 93:: 3115.515 541 NW Q m 7 V D. M. GRAHAM.

METHOD OF TREATING WHEAT AND THE LIKE GRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED Ami-25,1915- RENEWED MAY 24. IBM).

1,332,495. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 6- 0. M. GRAHAM. 1 METHOD OF TREATING WHEAT AND THE LIKEGRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25| 1915- BENEWED MAY 24,1919.

1,332,495. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

k 1 Q Mi-F N s N NE D. M. GRAHAM.

METHOD OF TREATING WHEAT AND THE LIKE GRAIN. APPLICATION FILED AUG-25'19m. RENEWED MAY 24.1919.

1,332,495. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET B.

mum H TJvwuntoz D. M. GRAHAM. METHOD OF TREAHNG WHEAT AND THE LIKEGRAIN. APPLICATION FILED AUG-25,1915- RENEWED MAY 24. I919. 1,332,495.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Gum

D. M. GRAHAM.

METHOD OF TREATING WHEAT AND THE LIKE GRAIN. APPLICATION FILED 18116.25.I915- RENEWED MAY 24,1919.

1,332,495. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET l0- wirf/nemoao V M My Q V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID M. GRAHAM, OF IBORIDULAG, NORTH DAKOTA. METHOD OF TREATING WHEATAN D THE LIKE GRAIN.

Application filed August 25, 1815, Serial No. 47.256. Renewed Key To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAH'D M. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States,residin at Bordulac. in the county of Foster and tate of North Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treatingl Vheat and the like Grain, of which the following is-a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a method of procedure, for thecut-ting,harvesting, storlng, drying and curing of wheat and the like grain. Thesubject-matter upon which it is based. the objects and purposes at whichI aim. are fully set forth hereinbelow, but a description first beinggiven of one form of apparatus by which the invention can be carriedout. I

That ap aratus is illustrated in the drawings, whic 1 are typical andmore or less conventional in character; and therein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mechanism comprising parts which embody mymechanical improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation from the grain side:

Fig. 3 is a front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the vertical plane of the line :r-m ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the straw receiving and stackingapparatus taken on the plane of the line Fig. 6 is a perspective of theture of the stacker apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a perspective showing part of the main frame of the stacker,together with some of the attached parts;

Fig. 8 shows some of the draft devices. the view being taken on thetransverse plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the base frame elements and supporting wheels.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of portions of one ofthe bottom tubularrack elements disassembled.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal horizontal section of the same when connectedtogether.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the end gate latches.

Fig. 13 is a plan view partly in horizontal section further illustratingthe same.

Fig. 14 is an elevation partly in section of the means for securing theforward end of ii ottoin struc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented, Mar. 2, 1920. 24, 1919. Serial No. 299,010.

the stacker receptacle, and of a part of the devices for operating theend gate latches.

Fig. 15 is an end view of a stack of grain used in my metho ig. 16 is asection of the same on line XVI-XVI of Fig. 17.

Fig. 17 is a section of the same on line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16.

The apparatus, as an entirety, in the drawings, may be regarded as madeup of four principal elements, namely, a cutting mechanism, indicated asa whole by A, a. straw-receiving and stack-forming mechanism indicatedby B, a transfer apparatus interposed between the cutter and the stackerand indicated as a whole by C, and a draft apparatus connected to andpeculiarly correlated with both the cutter and the stacker and indicatedas an entirety by D.

eferring, first, to the cutter a paratus, it comprises parts by whichdra can be applied, a frame for supporting the cutting devices, andparts for connecting these to the stacker element and for carrying thevarious devices that constitute the cutter mechanism.

For illustration, I have shown a stub tongue at 1 which, at its frontend, is flexibly connected to a fore truck to be described. At its rearend the tongue is pivoted to a. platform frame having the front sill bar2, the rear sill 2, a cross girt 2 at the outer end, and two cross girts8, 8 at the inner end. This cutter frame is hinged to the tongue by anarm 6 extending forward from the frame and carrying the hinge 6*.

Although the detail parts of the strawreceivin and stack-forming elementwill be more fu ly referred to hereinbelow, it may be here noticed thatit is built upon a base frame comprising an inner sill 1, an outersill1", a front cross girt 1, and a rear cross bar or girt 1, which,however, is at the top of the structure, and will be more fullydescribed.

The two main frames (that of the cutter mechanism and that of thestacker) are flexibly connected, these frames havin hinge arms at 3 and4- and 3" and 4", unite by hinges at 3", 4".

9 indicates'the bull wheel or wheel which, by traction .from the ground,transmits power for the operation of the cutter apparatus and the reel.It is mounted between the 'ber of cross girts 8, 8; and it may be notedthat this and the other parts of the cutter apparatus in? besubstantially similar to the correspon in parts of an ordinaryharvester.

he outer end of the cutter platform is supported u on the grain wheel19, mounted upon the ax e 19".

The fore truck has, as usual, two truck wheels 16 mounted upon the endsof an axle 17 to which is rigidly connected the tongue 18, thisstructure being joined by vertical hinge devices to the front end 0 thestub ton e.

e other main element B of the apparatus (the straw receiver and stacker)is mounted upon the inner ound wheels 10 and the outer ground whee s 11.An axle is indicated at 10 and bearings at 10".

The cutting apparatus has a sickle bar and guard fingers at 51 which maybe of any preferred sort. At 53 there is conventionally indicated theplatform carrier on roll's 52 and provided with cleats or flights 54.This horizontal carrier delivers the cut straws to an approximatelyvertically arranged elevator supported in a framework which is carriedby the inner end of the cutting apparatus. 56 and 58 are two endlessaprons with flights 56 and 58', the former mounted on a bottom roll 55and a to roll 55, and the latter upon a a top roll 57'. These endlessaprons are arranged suitably close together in order to maintain aliftin grip upon the stream of straws that is ehvered to them at thebottom.

The element 56 of the elevator has its bottom roll 55 in a plane higherthan the bottom of the other element 58. Immediatel below the formerthere is mounted a fee roll 62 which is provided with a suitable numberof curved fingers 63, curved reversely in relation to their direction ofrotation. The straws ass below this roll and are pressed by its gersagainst the inner apron 58 and there held until grasped by the lower endof the outer apron 56.

The inner a ron 58 has its upper roller 57" lane be ow that of the apron56, so that there is a space left for the free delivery outward of theelevated straw. It falls from the elevators upon a chute 64. This chute,the upper rolls, and other parts atthe top of the structure are suppo ina framework having vertical parts 68, braces at 7 cross bars 68, 70, anda suitable nu braces. The parts 68 ma be of sheet metal of sufiicientstrength an are shaped to have the vertical part and an outwardextending arm portion. The chute 64 is supported on a cross bar 65supported in brac ets 66 depending from the up r part of the frame justdescribed. At e lower end of the chute there is a gate having the upperpart 76 and the fingers 77 supported bottom roll 5 and on a rock shaftand at its sides are canvas shields 67. This rock shaft carries a cam74, and on a parallel shaft at 72 mounted in a-bearing 71 there is a cam73 ads ted to intermittingly engage with the cam 4.

Power is transmitted from the bull wheel to the parts above described bany well known mechanism. On the she driven by the bull wheel gear thereis a belt ulley 79 which, by belt 81, is connected to t e ulley 80 onthe shaft 57 of the apron 58. n the -roller shaft there is a gear wheel89 meshing with a gear wheel 88 on the shaft of the apron 56. On theshaft of the lower roller 55 of the apron 56 there is a gear wheel 60meshing with the ar wheel 61 on the shaft of the fingered r0 1 62.

The shaft of the wheel 88 has a sprocket 90 which is connected by achain 92, to a wheel 91, mounted on a stub shaft on the outside of theelevator frame. This shaft has a gear wheel meshing with the wheel 87 onthe shaft 72 which carries the cam 73.

By means of these transmitting devices the elevators 56, 58 and the roll62 are all actuated, and the cam 7 3 is rotated. At each rotation of thecam it impinges on the cam 74, opens the gate at 77, and holds it openlon enough to allow the charge of straw which. has accumulated on thechute 64 to pass down to the straw-receiving stacking mechanism.

After each opening of the gate, and when the cams 73, 74 disengage, thegate is returned to its closed osition by the spring 77. 69, 69 are rackare which are situated transversely of the machine and secured to thecross bars 70 and 68 escape of the straws upward.

The cutter bar is driven from the bull wheel by any ordinarytransmitting device, including a crank and itman mechanism.

110 indicates a reel s aft carrying the reel bars 111, this art of theapparatus being of any tare erred or suitable sort. On the reel shathere is a sprocket wheel 108 which, by chain 109, is connected tosprocket 107 on a shaft 106*. This shaft also carries a sprocket 106which, by chain 105, is connected to a sprocket 104 on shaft 127. Theshaft 110 is mounted in a swingin frame 112 which is hinged at the axisof tlie shaft 106. This shaft in turn is mounted in a verticallyswinging forward projecting frame having the bars 113 which are hingedat the axis of the shaft 127; 120 is a supporting bar or beam extendingforward from the base frame of the cutting apparatus. From it riseupward standards 117 119, 121 and 125. 118 is a lever pivoted on thestandard 119 and connected to an arm 121. which is joined to the frame113, the lever having a ratchet and segment lock; and by means of it thereel supporting structure can be moved up or down around the axis 127'.

for preventing the 116' is a lever mounted at the u per end of thestandard 117 and connected by a link 115,-which in turn is ivotallyconnected to the mounting of the s aft 110; and b this lever 116 thereel shaft can be adjusted outward or inward as desired. .Levers 116,118 are locked in ratchet se ents at 126.

To tilt the cutter plat orm and frame and throw the cutter bar down orup, use ismade of a lever 123 pivoted at the u per end of a standard 125and adjustably locked by a ratchet segment at 122, the lever beingconnected to a link 124 which, at its upper end, is pivoted to theelevator frame at a relatively high point.

128 is a bevel wheel on the end of shaft 129 which meshes with the bevelwheel 127 on the shaft 127 Shaft 129 at the o posite side of theelevator carries a sprocket 83, which, b chain 84, is connected tosprocket 85 on t e oountershaft of the bull wheel gearin By t e partslast described the positions of the cutters, the rocking of the cutterframe cast by the throwing of the lever 123 is permitted by the hinge at6 which connects the stub tongue 1 with the hinge arm 6v of the frame.

The frame is flexibly connected to the straw receiving and stackingframe by a brace link 21 extending from the outer end of the cutterframe to the rear end of the stacker. I

The gate opening mechanism is thrown out of action F y the shiftinglever 101 having a fork 99 engagin with the hub of the wheel 91 andadapteg to draw the clutch element 94, having teeth 94, out ofengagement with the clutch element 93 connected to the gear wheel whichdrives the cam shaft. And it is thrown into action by means of thespring 97 around the extension 96 of the clutch shaft, having anabutment 98 at its outer end. The lever 101 is the end of the leverbackward around acable sheave 102 mounted at 103 on the brace 7, andthen extends forward to a pedal lever 48 near the drivers seat 47.

The straw delivered from the chute 64 falls into a receptacle formingpart of the stacker element.

The sill bars 1, 1", as above stated, are joined by bottom girts 1 and1'. 143 are relatively lon uprights or posts at the rear ends of the siIs, and 131, 131 are relatively shorter posts or uprights near the frontends of the 81115. The rear posts are connected at their tops by thecross girt 1", and the front posts are connected by the girt 1'. Thusthere is a four-sided vertical frame at the front end of thestraw-receiving receptacle and a three-sided frame at the rear, thebottom of this frame being 0 en.

The front end of the Base frame is supoperated by 7 means of the cable49 which extends from ported upon a truck having two wheels 14, the axle14 and the to e 15, situated below the front 1' an connected thereto bya vertical pivot. At a cross line near the middle, longitudinally, ofthe base frame the aforesaid axle 10 is mounted for thewheels 10 and 11,this axle, as stated, bein mounted in the bearingsat 10 secured to t eunder side of the sills. Between the sills are rollare 13 spaced by ormounted on the tube 12. Each roller 13 carries an anti-friction rollerbearing. a

U on these rests the straw receptacle and stac 'ng device, roper. Thisis composed of a longitudlna ly and vertically movable ttom structuretogether with lon 'tudinally stationary but laterally movab e sidewalls, and a longitudinally swinging rear wall or gate.

The main parts of the side walls are indicated by 141. Each is securedat its front end to a vertically arranged, loose, and mov' able bar 133,and at its rear end is connected to the main frame by a vertical hingerod 142' held by brackets 142 connected to the rear posts 143.

The swinging rear wall or gate com rises a rock shaft 177 mounted inbrackets 1 9, at the tops of the rear posts, side bars 140, a bottomcross bar 140, and vertically arranged spaced rods 178. This gatenormally tends to swing forward, and is locked in its closed position;but when unlocked can be pushed and swung backward by the load in thereceptacle. It is locked by the catch devices at 148, each pivoted to abracket 148". The latches are opened by pull rods 147 in brackets 149extending forward at the sides of the machine and connected to thecranks 150 of a rock shaft 151 mounted in bearings 152 on the sills 1,1", just in front of the receptacle. '153 is a lever arm rigid with therock shaft 151 and extending up to a point where it will be accessibleto an attendant. When he rocks the lever 153 forward the rods 147 openthe catches 148 and the rear gate is free to swing backward.

The front wall of the receptacle is preferably a rack having thevertically arranged spaced rods 131 fastened in the bottom girt 1 andthe top girt 1'. The front ends of the side walls are positively drawninward. but are free to be returned by springs. 155, 155 are cablesattached to the inner sides of the bars or posts 133. 154 is a windingdrum to which the inner ends of the cables are attached. The shaft 145"of this drum is mounted in an upright in the front wall, and carries atits outer end asprocket 146, which, by chain 145, is connected tosprocket 144 on a shaft 144 at the top of the frame. This shaft has alocking ratchet 135 with which a spring held pawl 1'35" engages. 147 isa crank on the shaft 144'. The attendant, by means of to the outer sideof one of the bars or posts I 133, the cable passing through adeflecting longitudinal vertical guide at 139.

The bottom structure of the rece tacle and stacker is formed with abottom ame having the side sills 157, the front girt 157', a rear crossbar 160, and intennedlate girts 157". 158, 158 are longitudinallyarranged bars. In these are mounted rollers 165 in a horizontal series.Upon these rollers there is arranged an endless carrier 166 carryingflights or attachments 167. This carrier system extends from the frontend of the re ceptacle to a transverse line at or near the center,longitudinally. As shown, it is on the inner side of the bottomstructure, that is to say, is disposed between the central plane and theinner side wall 141.

Along the outer side of this bottom structure for the receptacle thereare longitudinal bars 168 in w ich rollers 172 are mounted in ahorizontal series, and upon these there is a canvas 172" carrying cleatsor flights 173. This carrier system is narrower than that at 166 on theinner side. A space is left between the outer wall 141 and this outercarrier 172. This unobstructed space is rovided for an attendant whostands wit in the receptacle for purposes to be described.

Between the carriers there is a longitudinally arranged structure thepurpose of which is to completely separate the inner part of the strawmass at the bottom from the outer part, the separation being maintainedafter the mass is deposited on the und, and is intended to iermit freeaccess of currents of air, as wil be set forth.

169, 169 are plates or boards arranged verticall and cured to the baseframe part. ey e nd relatively long distance upward fro the bottomplanes. Alon their upper edges is mounted a series of to lers 169, andupon these is arranged a zilendless belt 170 carrying flights or teeth 1To reduce the frictional resistance to the straw alon the surfaces ofthe vertical parts 169, t ey are cut away over as wide an area aspossible and the metal rods 181 and 181' are arranged longitudinally inthe cutaway s aces. This air-s ace-former is arranged ongitudinally ancentrally between the side walls 141.

161 are rack elements, preferably, tubes, secured rear ends to the rearcross their front ends secured to the girt 157". These tubes are cutsuch as bars, or, at 160" at their girt 160, and at intermediate away at162,

- receiving and and in the rear end of each there is inserted anextension 163, preferably a tube, of smaller diameter, and secured b apivot 164, the rear fingers 163 being a apted to rock, within limits, inthe ends of the tubes.

The rack system having these relatively short bars or tubes 161 is inthe longitudinal vertical planes of the carrier systems 166 and 172".

Along the outer wall 141 there are similar, but longer, rack bars ortubes 161 which extend from the rear cross girt 160, to which they areattached, forward to the front cross girt 157 of the base frame. It isupon these that the attendant is supported while he remains in thereceptacle.

On the under side of each of the side sills 157 there is an inclinedroller track bar 191. 190 indicates a support which carries the forwardend of one 0 these, and 190 indicates a stop device.

At the front end the movable bottom structure rests upon a support 168.secured to the stationary frame. At the rear ends of the sills 157 thereare plates 159 which furnish a wide support when the rear end of thebottom structure settles down upon the ground, these actin as shoes andpreventing the bar parts from sinking below the ground surface.

Draft is applied to the front of the cutter frame and also to the frontof the straw stacking frame. The main or overning line of draft is notdirectly at t e center of either of these. The two mechanisms require,under ordinary conditions and circumstances, four draft horses. Theseare hitched to the swingletrees 46. As above described, there is, underthe front end of the stacker frame, that is, under the the sill 1, atruck having a tongue 15, cross axle 14 and wheels 14. One of theextreme swingletrees 46 is outside of this tongue 15 and the one at theopposite extreme is outside of the tongue 18. The two intermediateswingletrees are between the tongues 15 and 18. These swingletrees arepivotally connected to double trees 45. The double trees are in turnflexibly connected to the ends of the evener bar 44. This, at itscenter, is connected to the draw bar 38, which is rigidly fastened to atransverse bar 36. This bar has at its ends rollers 37 37 bearinghorizontall backward against a vertical flange or ril) 23 which rises upfrom a metal angle bar 23' which is secured to the front cross girt 1 ofthe stacker frame. On the ends of this angle bar are mounted two groovedcable sheaves 25 and 28. The bar 38 extends backward from a transversebar 36 and passes through a s ot 38* in the upright rib or flange 23 andat its rear end carries a pulley 39 behind the rib or flange 23. 30 is awinding drum mounted on support 31 at a suitable place on the frame, as,for instance, on a short lon tudinal bar 35, and rovided with a handle32 within reach of t e driver in his seat 47. 24 and 29 are cablessecured to this drum and adapted to wind thereon in opposite directions.Cable 24 extends from the drum to the front side of pulley 39, thencetoward the outer side of the stacker frame to pulley 25, thence back toa fastener at 43 on the outer end of the cross bar 36. Cable 29 extendsin the opposite direction from the winding drum 30 around a pulley 28,and thence to the other end of the cross bar 36. 33 is a pawl and 31' isa ratchet wheel on the axis of drum 30. 34 is a foot trip accessible tothe driver for releasing the awl 33. 33' is a spring normally tending toold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet.

The operator can, from his seat, operate the drum 30 in such way as tocause the bar 38 to move outward toward the stubble side of the machine.40 is a spring fastened to an abutment 42 on arm 41 and also fastened at40 to the transverse slidingbar 36, or a suitable part of the slidingframe. If the draft devices are away from their innermost position andif the operator by the trip 34 should release the dog 33, the spring 40will return them to then innermost positions. The necessity for such adraft ad- .justing device in a combined stacker and harvester will beexplained below.

The manner of operating an apparatus of the sort which I have shown anddescribed will be readily understood.

The object, generally considered, is to radically change the manner ofhandling, disposing of, storing, curing, and treating, newly cutin-carrying straws. And in order to brie y, but clearly, present, by waof contrast, the results which I accomp ish, they can be compared withthe steps now universally taken, in the harvesting of wheat, oats, andother ain straw, on the one hand, and hay, alfa fa, and the like, on theother hand.

nor present purposes, the universal practice, as concerns the cutting,storing, curing and threshing of grain-carrying straws is as follows:Harvesting and binding machines are used, each comprising a cuttingapparatus, a conveyin mechanism upon which the grain falls as it is cutand a binding apparatus to which grain is taken by first elevating itand then allowin it to descend, somewhat, to a binding ta le. While onthis table predetermined approximately uniformly sized masses areseparated from the stream and each of these, after being tightlycompressed, is surrounded by a strand of twine drawn from a ball. Whenthe encircling twine band is completed it is severed, and the two endsare knotted together.

The tightly bound bundles pass from the machine to the bundle carrier,about one,

bundle to ten feet of travel, and after four or five are accumulatedthey are thrown to the round as the machine moves along over the eld,andthese bundles are subse uently gathered up to form shocks, some eight orten bundles to the shock. For an understanding of the avera e it may bestated that there w1ll be ten bundles in each shock, and that the shocksare at the corners of arallelograms each fifty feet lon and mm fifteento twenty feet wide, a though, of course, in practice, there may beconsiderable variation from this average.

As to matters of economy, the factors to be considered are:

First, in machinery: The first cost of the binding a paratus to thefarmer; the vast amount 0 capital tied up in bindin apparatus, inharvesting terrltories, the i iabllitv of delicate parts to get out oforder, with the liability of consequent loss during the working seasonwhile waiting for repairs, and the cost of repairs constantly needed;

Second, the cost of bindin twine: Assuming twelve cents per oun theaverage cost per acre can be consi cred as about fift cents for twine;for forty acres, twenty do lars; for a quarter section, eighty dollars;for a section of land, three undred and twent dollars.

As is well known, there are, in the wheat growing territories, numerousfarms which handle three thousand acres of wheat per year; in such casesthere is an expense nei h boring upon fifteen hundred dollars or twinefor that quantity of wheat land. Then, when one considers the vastacreage of oats, barley, and other cereals which are harvested in a waysimilar to that followed in harvestin wheat, there is appreciation ofthe fact t at, according to the Agricultural Department statistics, theannual exgense incident to the farmers of the United tates is fifteenmillions of dollars.

Third, the loss incident to preventing access to the stubble land forplowing and preparing for the next crops; this is, of course, notcalculable-with exactitude;- but the vastness of the amount will beappreciated -from the data. The tightly bound bundles (produced by thebinder) after shocking, stand, each with its straws compacted tightlytogether. and the eight or ten tightly acked together in a shock inthousands of shocks, a few feet apart, scattered over the ground, untilthe time for threshing. The period during which they so stand is alwaysone of several weeks, and generally one of several months.

. The wheat territories may, from the standpoint of storing andthreshing, be divided into two classes. The first includes thoseterritories where the wheat is planted and harvested in small fieldlots, each say of from forty or less acres, up to those of 35 While thes 45 seldom finished before the latter one hundred acres. In manyregions of small fields the wheat is allowed to stand in the shocks fora number of weeks, and is then brought to and stored in barns or mows.In other regions of small fields it is allowed to stand in the shocksuntil it is assumed to be sufliciently dried and cured, and then it islpiled in larger stacks, until the time for t reshing. It cannot bebrought immediately from the harvester to the mows or to the largestacks because of the necessity for curins the grain and the straw, thisinvolving. the drying or evaporating of the moisture, durin which periodthere is dangr of over-heating, whichis well known as ing incident tonewl cut grain, and creates a liability of sel -firing where it isstored in mows or masses in large stacks.

Now, even in the regions where the fields are small in acreage thestubble land is not available for plowin or cultivating for a relativelylong perio after the time of har vesting.

In wheat-growing regions of the other class the fields are much larger,running from one hundred acres each to six hundred and forty acres, andfrom there to several square miles in area.

In such regions the practice is, univerao sally, as above described;that is to say,

shocks of eight or ten bundles are immediately formed, and are allowedto stand upon the ground, sometimes for months, until the time, oropportunity, for threshing arrives.

ocks so stand the farmer has no opportunity for plowing the stubbleland, a t ough for many years it has been recognized as a greatdesideratum to be able to immediately commence the plowing for the nextcropafter the harvest. For example,

5 must be done in the spring.

A six hundred and forty acre section can be regarded as requiring threegang plows and twelve horses for forty days for low- There is no suchperiod allowed 1n the fal of the year after the threshing, over widelyextended territories.

My system and mechanism for harvesting and storing the grain cleans upthe stubble land at once and enables the farmer to com- OOmence hislowing at least as early as September, an' in a large amount of acreagehe can commence in August.

Fourth. And again, when the time for threshing arrives (always someweeks, and

05 generally some months, after the grain has been cut and shocked) itbecomes necessary to transport the bundles of the shocks long distancesin order to bring them to the threshing apparatus. It is not practicableto move the ordinarythreshing mechanism over a large field territoryfrom point to point; and it therefore becomes necessary, vice versa, tobring the bundles over such territory to the thresher. It isconservative to state that if a threshing machine is stationed at anyint in a one hundred acre wheat lot, a ve icle which brings the bundlesfrom the shocks to the thresher must travel at least one hundred andfifty miles a da Generally, there are eight or ten vehic es eachtraveling from twelve to fifteen miles per day. From this one canappreciate the labor involved, the work performed, and the expendituremade, in the mere matter of haulage from scattered points over the fieldto the threshing machine. It generally demands, in the wheat section ofthe northwest, the work of from ten to twelve farm vehicles, twentyhorses, and from twelve to sixteen men each day that a threshin machineis at work.

y system of harvesting and storing the grain is intended to radicallymodify this earlier practice.

Two 0 eratives accompany the machine, one for riving, steering andattending to the team, and the other for observing the delivery of thestraw, disposing it as it is received in the receptacle, and forming anddelivering the stack sections. One rides on the seat 47, the other,during the earlier stages of forming a stack, rides in the receptacle,standing on the longer rods 161 at the outer side of the machine; and,during the last period of forming the stack, he stands upon the runninboards or platforms 17+, at the side, and 1 5 at the front.

The parts having been properly adjusted, the cutting of the standinggrain commences. As the straws fall backward from the cutter bar theyare received on the platform carrier 53, are carried by it to the lowerends of the aprons 56 and 58, are pressed by the fingers 63 on therollers 62 into the space between the two vertical carriers, and by thelatter are elevated to planes above the roller 57.

If wheat be had in mind, the height of the stalks is generally fromtwenty to thirtysix inches. I prefer to sever the straws in such way asto have them ei hteen inches long from the heads down. The cuttingapparatus is tilted by means of the lever 123 and the link 1% to eflectthe cutting at the desired length.

When the machine starts its operation the line of draft, applied by thedraft devices and the evener 44 to the draw bar 38, is appgpximately inthe midway vertical plane ween the centers of dead resistance from theoperator in the seat 47 who rotates the winder at 30 in such way as todraw the draft bar 38 outward. After each ad ustment the spring at 33causes the detent 33 to engage its ratchet and lock thedraft bar againstretraction. I have found that under ordinary circumstances a lateral adjustment of the line of draft of from twenty to thirty inches isnecessary? It will be seen that flexibility is necessary as concerns theconnection of each im rtant art of the apparatus with anot er; that 1s,between the draft device and the main framework; between the draft andthe cutter frame; and between the cutter frame and the stacker frame.The draft animals can be turned to the right or to the left, and thesteering wheels in front of both elements of the mechanism assist insecuring a quick turn. The stacker frame can follow uneven surfaces ofthe ground below it more or less independently of the movements of thecutter and elevator frame, and vice versa. The outer end of the cutterframe and the rear end of the stacker frame are properly held by theflexible connecting brace 21.

The accumulator (comprising the chute 64, the gate 76, 77, and the sidewalls at the up er part of the elevator) can be used in either of twoways, according to circumstances.

This is to say, first, the gate can be held open during the entire timethat a load is being delivered to the stacker receptacle and closed onlywhen the stack mass is being delivered from the receptacle to theground. For so holding open the gate the pull device is provided whichis accessible to the operative in the stacker; and at such time theclutch at 94 is held open. The chute and gate are then used merely toaccumulate the straw of the stream continuously rising from the cuttersduring the interval of a few seconds'when the oad is being emptied.

Or, on the other hand, the accumulator can be used to form aseries ofcharges successively delivered from the elevator to the stackerreceptacle, thus allowin the attendant (who is occupied in proper ydisposing the straws) opportunity to properly place the straws of onecharge before another charge is delivered. At such times the closingspring 77 is left free to normally close the gate and the clutch at 94*is closed.

"When the parts are soad'usted there will be a regular recurrence 0 theopening and closing of the gate 77, these movements bein timed with thelineal travel of the machine. The driving chain gear at 90,91 and 92 canbe constructed to rovide different speeds and time intervals or theoperation of the accumulating and bunching devices to correspond withthe volume of grain which is being cut and elevated.

When the grain is standing in good condition it is the second method ofuse just referred to that I follow. The straw is delivered in bunchesfrom the accumulator to the interior of the stacker. The attendant, whostands therein, arranges the straws as he sees fit.

The superior plan for arranging the straws is as follows: Theattendanttakes the first loose bunch, places it at the inner rear corner of theWagon chamber with the heads turned inward (to lie adjacent to theairspace-former) and butts outward. This about fills the rear end of theright-hand side of the receptacle to the top of the space former, whichI will indicate as an entirety by F. The succeeding bunches or chargesof loose straws he places with their butts downward and resting againstthe straws first placed in the corner. He continues this arranging ofthe straws (with the butts downward and the heads upward) from therearend, or tailgate, to the front end wall on the inner side. He thenlaces a bunch at the rear outer corner with t e straws horizontal andheads inward against the spaceformer, and fills the intermediate andforward portion of the stacker chamber on the outer side in the wayabove described for filling the inner side.

He has now built up a bottom layer or stratum of upright straws whichextend up to within a few inches of the top of the airspace-former. Hethen fills the remainder of the room at the sides of the spaceformerwith horizontally disposed straws, butts outward. Then he stacks orarranges them across the tops of the air-formencontlnuing the placing oflayers (as uniformly buftts outward and1- heads to the as possible)until he reaches the tops of the side walls. These are general]supplemented by canvas wings or shie ds, which practically extend theside walls as retainers. The best dimensions that I have so far foundfor the chamber in the stack are: length ten feet, width five or sixfeet, height five to seven feet.

During the time that the straw is being disposed and packed in thischamber the front ends of the side walls are drawn inward by the drum154 and the cables 155, horizontally, laterally, the chamber will taperor wlden rearward.

By the time the mass of straw in the chamber has reached or approachedthe top of the side walls the attendant leaves the interior and standsupon the board 174 from which he can still effect the manipulating andlacin of the straws at the top.

A er en 'cient straw has been received in the rece tacle to form a massof the predetermine de th the gate tripping devices at 74, 74 are t rownout by disengaging the clutch 94, and the straws of the rising streamare allowed to temporarily accumulate in the buncher. Then the stackerattendant, stepping to the platform 175, releases the crank shaft 144.Thereupon the springs 137 immediately draw the forward ends of the sideboards outward, relieving the straw mass of pressure and friction at thesides.

Then this attendant releases the bottom lock or catch 153' andsimultaneously opens the latches 148 behind the tail gate, by rockingthe shaft 151 through lever 153.

he stacker receptacle 1 at all places behind the ledges or shoulders 168rests upon the axle 10, or upon the rollers 13, which in turn bear onthe axle. The center of gravity of the load is in, or approximately in,the vertical plane of the axis of the axle. I aim to have the gravity sodistributed that when the load of straw is completed its center of avitywill be slightly in the rear of this pfi iie.

Consequently, when the catch 153 is open, the rear end of the stackerreceptacle begins to ently swing downward; and, as the latches 148 havebeen opened the tail gate is free to swing backward under the pressureof the load. The downward movement of the rear end of the bottomstructure continues until the rack fin rs 163 strike the ground, theroar part of t e straw mass resting upon them. When they contact withthe ground they swing up somewhat on the pivots 164. By this time thebottom of the straw mass, has, over a large area, come in contact withthe ground surface, a powerful gripping friction is caused, and thewhole mass is held practically stationarily, without forward dragging,on the ground. This downward s aging of the rear end of the bottomstructure brings the track bars 191 to the horizontal, or with theirforward ends slightly above the horizontal, and the whole bottomstructure is free to move backward over the axle; or, vice versa, themain frame structure of the stacker is free to move forward under thestraw receptacle. The latter occurs, and the forward movement of theaxle relatively to the straw muss continues until the stop arms 190,190" are reached. In the meantime the rear end of the straw mass hasbeen securing a firm grip on the ground. As soon as the axle impinges onthe stops 190" the forward motion of the main frame suddenly tugs at themovable bottom structure and it is uicklv drawn out from under thestraw. he eiidless aprons 171 and 172 (which, by means of their cleats167, 171 and 173, en-

gage quite firmly with the bottom part of the straw mass) permit thebottom structure to move out from under the straw with the resistancereduced to minimum.

. As soon as the bottom structure is free from the straw the attendantgrasps the handle of the lever 156 and draws downward upon it. Thistends to overbalance the bottom structure in the opposite direction.When it is unloaded, the front part in ad- Vance of the vertical planeof the wheel axis is heavier than the rear part, the weights of theparts being selected and arranged with this in view, that is to say, tohave the front end heavier when the stacker is empty. When it is loadedthere is a considerab y greater quantity of straw at the rear endbecause of the divergence of the side walls toward the rear. After theattendant has given a downward pull on the lever 156' the inclined track190 insures that the bottom structure shall move relatively forwardagain and come to the position where it rests upon the shoulders at 168.After this it is again locked by the latch at 153*; and the tail gate,which has followed the bottom structure back to its closed position, islocked by the latches 148.

These operations of releasing the stack receptacles, its settling down,its being drawn out from under the stack, and its returning to positionfor another load, alltake lace in from twenty to twenty-five feet 0travel of the machine.

The stack X which is formed is illustrated in Figs. 15, 16 and 17.

The space which was occupied by the former F is now an open air chamberor flue Y extending from the front side of the stack practically underit entirely to the back. In earlier machines which I have devised Iformed an air space in the stack which had inclined sides that convergedat a sharp angle toward the top. I found this inferior in that thestraws tend to crowd together and close up more or less of this airpassa When a space-former such as thatdi erein shown, and indicated byF, is used, an air chamber is produced which, at any place, in

vertical section, presents a sharply defined rectangle. And t is insuresthe maintainihg of the air open indefinitely.

assa e Throug out 51c greater part of the bottom of the stack the lowerlayer or stratum of straws all stand with their butts to the groundexcept a few at the rear end of the stack which have their butts turnedoutward but'with their heads inward and adjacent to the air space wherethey are protected from the elements and are situated so as to be fullyventilated and cured.

The straws around the air space are so disposed that, not being tightlybound by twine or otherwise, the air can readily move laterally,horizontally, and also vertically uplineal ticu means ward from this airchamber and circulate with freedom through the mass.

A stacking mechanism of the sort shown and described herein is of suchdimensions that it can carry the cuttings of one hundred and sixt rodsof lineal travel of the up aratus. 'l his enables the farmer to select tat portion of the field where he wishes the grain: to be stored duringits drying and curing, and where it can be readily delivered directly tothe thresher. He then lays out the rounds for the machine, so that as itapproaches the selected area where he wishes all of the grain to bestacked, the attendant, at the termination of each round, (whose lengthis determined by the load to be obtained) trips the mechanism abovedescribed in such way as to deliver the stack in said area.

The different loads or stack sections can be delivered substantiallycontinuously along some predetermined line across, or in selectedsections of, the field. If the grain is already dry and approximatelycured these loads or sections of a stack can be placed relatively closetogether. But if the grain is in less favorable condition the loads canbe arranged on a broken line, or staggered, so as to expose the sidesand ends to access of the air, and yet be in a restricted area, as abovespecified, so that the greater part of the field area is cleaned up andready for plowing.

I have above directed attention more arlarly to wheat in order to conveya c ear understanding of the mechanism and the mode of its use. It willbe understood, however, that any cereal-carryin straw which is harvestedby the ordinary arvestin and binding machines can be cut and hand ed inthe way described, such as oats, flax, barley, and the like. And I havealso found that other materials which do not require as 1 much care inmanipulation can be also harvested and stored to great advantage by anapparatus embodyi my improvements; such as hays of the or inar s ecies,alfalfa, or the like. For hay or alfiilfli the machine is used insubstantially the same way as above described; the cut grass or stalks,if properlydisposed in the receptacle, around and over theair-space-former, and when the machine reaches a predetermined area ofthe fielda stack is formed, which when made in the way described willdry and cure with results much superior to those obtained when the planis followed of leaving the freshly cut, materials lie ulpon the groundand then gathered into sma l piles or shocks and finally in the largerstac s.

With regard to my improved method of harvesting cereal grains it may beadded that heretofore in has been bound into bundles and shoe ed withthe bundles leaning inward against each other. In some instances thisprocedure would incidentally leave air spaces between the bundles, butsuch air spaces had no influence or use ness in connection with thegrain berries and did not modify or hasten or improve the sweating andcuring of the berries, because the berries were in the heads of thebundles and top of the shock and exposed to the air, so that no sweatinfurther growth, maturing and increase 0 weight and value was attamed.Nothing but a drying out of moisture took place, and this was intended,in order that there mi ht be no injurious heating in a stack or am incase such ain was not to be thrashed from the shock. om times suchbundles and shocked in was, after a thorough drying, stacked in thefield or mowed away .in the barn and left for a month or six weeks,before threshin Great articularity as to the dryness of t e grain forestacking or mowing it had to be exercised in such cases, sufiicientlydried in the field before stackin or mowing the sweating in the mow orsta would go too far and the grain would heat (even to the point ofcombustion) and mow b'urn so that the quality, grade and value wasreatly reduced, sometimes to the point of ki ling the germ so that itwould be unfit for seed, or of rendering the berries unfit for use asfood. After such reliminary drying little or no benefit coul be derivedfrom the sap in the cut grain straws. But when my method is followed thegrain is cut so that the attached to their berries and it is stacked inthe field as it is cut with almost all of the grain berries inclosedwithin the stack together with the naturally attached sap-containingstraws, so that they begin to sweat or ferment immediately on theformation and deposit of the stack; but, the grain mg newly cut andhaving considerable sa and moisture in it,

I modify and contro such sweating so that excessive heating with itsevil resu ts does not occur, and this I perform by causing air todistributed through the stack, as by formin a ventilating air space orpassa e in the erry-inclosing stack by which su cient free air is suplied and moisture is taken away, so that t e sweating extends only tothe esirable ex: tent.

Under such conditions the berries will continue to mature and improve ingrade by taking up plant food from the straws, in which the sap andmoisture present at the time of cuttin has been preserved, so that anaction, pro bly fermentive or chemical, takes place, known as sweatin bywhich nutriment continues to be trans erred from the cut straws to theberries. The heat nerated in the thicker part of the stac is not allowedto rise to an injurious de to interfere with this continued growth ofbecause if it were not sap holding straws remain the berries, becausethe heated very hygroscopic and moist air in those parts of the stackwhere heating and sweatin begins rises through the interstices of t estack and takes away heat and moisture and keeps down excessivetemperature. ,This rising air draws in and is re laced by drier andcooler air which is free y supplied from the ventilating air passage wich has been formed in the lower part of the stack, and this fresh airacts in a similar manner throughout the stack wherever it penetrates,and removes heat as it is further generated. An injurious degree of heatis thus continually prevented while the lesser degre of heataccompanying the sweating, growth and maturing of the berries ispermitted.

By my method not only are great quantities of grain berries preventedfrom being scattered and lost, and much labor saved, as alreadyexplained, but a 1perfect curin is efiected within two or t ree weeks ater stackin in the field and the grain has then attaine its maximummaturity, grade and value and is ready for threshing.

The stack should be constructed of such shape as to be stable; and inorder to secure the best results, the stack mass and thestack-ventilating s ace should be of such relative sizes that t esweating, heating and maturing of the berries shall take place, butshall be restrained as described and prevented from inoreasin to aninjurious extent. Ihave discove by practical'experience in the harvestfield that a suitable and convenient size of stack for the u sesdescribed is about six to seven feet hi six feet wide and ten feet long,with tie air space or lpassage Y about twenty-six inches high. T e airspace may be of such width as does not prevent the stabilit of thestack. I have found that a width 0 eight inches is sufliicien't for thedescribed ventilation. I do not intend however that my improvement islimited to or by the dimensions stated.

I do not in this application present any claim relating to apparatus forcarry' out the method which is claimed. But sai apparstus is believed tobe novel and patentable and the stack former is claimed in myapplication Serial No. 97,298, filed May 13, 19 6, as a division hereof.

What I claim is:

1. The.herein described method of harvesting and stacking graincarry'straws of wheat or the like for drying and curing the same in the openair, it consistmg m cu gram, immediately packmg the cut straws whileunbound and loose around an interior former at the bottom of the massand withm an exterior former, emerging a bottom layer of the loose orunboun straws in approximately vertical position with their the strawsof the standing butts downward, arranging strata or layers of otherloose unbound straws above the unbound straws of the bottom stratumuntil the height determined on for the stack is reached, causing thestraws to settle in the said exterior former and more or less interlockwith each other around the interior former, then depositing the saidstack on the ground and withdrawing the former and separating theformers therefrom, causing the butts of the lower stratum to stand uponthe ground, and maintaining an air flue through the mass correspondingto the said interior former until the sin is cured.

2. The herein described method of harvesting and stacking grain-carryingstraws of wheat or the like for storing drying and curing the same inthe open air, it consisting in packing the straws while newly cut andwhile loose and unbound around an interior former at the bottom of themass, forming a bottom layer or stratum of such straws with their buttportions arranged to contact with the ground, arranging strata or layersof other loose unbound straws above the said loose bottom stratum untilthe determined height of the stack is reached, causing the strawsadjacent to the interior former to settle and pack around the same whileloose and unbound, then bringing the bottom of a part of the said massinto contact with the ground and separating it partly from the exteriorformer, then separating it entirely from the interior former and fromthe exterior former, and maintaining an open air chamber at the bottomof the mass corresponding to the interior former until the in is cured.

3. The herein descri d method of hervesting and stacking newly cutgrain-carrying straws of wheat and the like for storing drying andcuring same in the o 11 air, it consisting in forming a mass 0 nearlycut straws while loose and unbound, arranging at the bottom of a massover a confined horizontal area a stratum of said straws with theirheads upward and with their butts downward around an interior former atthe bottom of the mass and within an exterior former, then arra g strataor layers of other loose unboun straws above the said stratum with thoseof the up r strata having their butts turned outwar continumg the pilingof the upper strata to the determined height of the stack, causing thestraws while loose and unbound to settle upon and interlace or en gewith each other around the interior firmer, then depositin the saidstack mass on the and and withdrawing the formers, an after theirwithdrawal maintaining an air chamher through the mass corresponding tothe interlor former until the in is cured;

4. The herein descri method of harvesting and stacking straws

